Kathy Kuzma (and her husband, George) are well know to the Club as the volunteers behind the Ukrainian Gift of Life Organization. We have partnered with them in the past on that life saving program. However on Thursday, September 12, Kathy visited the Club to inform us of a new initiative with which she is involved, New Jersey Villages. Kathy was joined by Terry VanDelden.

The project was launched in 2014. It aspires to develop virtual villages for seniors in the Bergen-Passaic area. The village concept, for which Village to Village Network (VtVNetwork) provides a blueprint (Village 101 Toolkit) and ongoing support, is a grassroots, not-for-profit, fee-based membership, concierge service to support seniors to age in place — but not alone — as part of an intergenerational virtual village community (www.vtvnetwork.org). Members of the North Jersey Villages' (NJV) steering committee are also members of the VtVNetwork.

Villages are generally member-driven, non-profit, community-based networks that help provide independent living resources and referrals so older adults who choose to age in place can continue living vibrant and healthy lives in their homes and communities, even as they age and need more support services.

One can learn more about them at their web site: http://www.northjerseyvillages.org/.

On September 19, we were treated to a talk from John Cosgrove of the Fair Lawn Sunrise Club. For many years now Rotary International has set Membership Growth as a goal. Worldwide Rotary installs about 300,000 new members every year, but due to death, conflicting interests, financial issues, and other problems, loses about 300,000 members every year. Worldwide the Organization has been level at 1,200,000 members.

Growing that number is a major goal of Rotary, and of our District, and hence of our Clubs. John has been instrumental in the amazing growth of the Fair Lawn Sunrise Club. Over the past several months the Club has attracted 24 net new members – 6 new members in July alone!

John shared with our Club some of the strategies Fair Lawn Sunrise has employed to attract new members. These have included the addition of evening meetings, out of the box events such as Goat Yoga!

Our Club’s Membership Committee is going to take into consideration a number of John’s ideas and experiences to continue to grow our Club.

• Through monthly donations to the Rotary Foundation, Russ Kamp achieved a Sapphire on his Paul Harris Pin. Paul Platek awarded Russ the new pin at our 9-19 meeting.

• We are once again hosting the Fashion Show. The date is Sunday, January 25^th, 2020. Contact Emmy to help out.
   
• The DICTIONARY PROJECT will soon be upon us. Schedules have been sent out. Please contact Paul Vicente to sign up for one or more of the schools!
   
• We have begun tutoring at OASIS on Saturday mornings. Contact Cindy Perrotta to sign up and help out. It is a great experience helping the youth in Paterson.
   
• The Club is going as a group to the Northern Highlands - Ramsey's Octoberfest on Saturday, September 28.
• After the event we will progress to Wyckoff to see the FIREWORKS. Sign up with Paul Platek!
   
• Both at the Octoberfest and at the September 26th meeting we will welcome and meet Rotarians from England who are here on Friendship Exchange. This is a great opportunity to see how Rotary works in other countries and make new friends. Try to come early to the September 26th meeting.
   
• Hurricane Dorian did unbelievable damage to the Bahamas and the coastal area in the US. Our District Disaster Committee is organizing fundraising and other relief. Every Rotarian should have received an email from Carl Hassett on ways they can contribute and help out.
   
• The BEEFSTEAK will be upon us before we know it. Please sell your tickets, solicit your gifts for the Tricky Tray Raffle, and get Table Sponsors. Contact Tom Madigan for copies of the solicitation form.
   
• Finally, we will soon have a NEW MEMBER. Maggie Wolarik, who has been our guest for the last few weeks, has asked to join the Club. She will be inducted at the September 26^th meeting.